Body Language

Body Language is a term for communication using body movements or gestures with or without sounds, verbal language or other communication. It describes all forms of human communication that are not verbal. This includes the finest movements that many people are not aware of, including wink and slight movement of the eyebrows. In addition body language can also include the use of facial expressions. Everyone uses body language. People can not live without each other, we are social beings. As soon as we are in contact with others we exchange few words. For this we can make use of spoken and written language. We have all heard about the body language in a romantic setting. The old saying is Love at first sight not love at first word. A connection is made without words. Infact, body language says more than words can express, for our body can display the intentions very easily.

The importance of knowing how we communicate: How we come across to someone is decided only for a small part by the words we speak. To leave a good impression behind, e.g. in a job interview, it is important that we know, and to a certain extent can control, our body language. The person on the receiving end of our body language will have a feeling or impression that is often difficult to describe. Haven't we all said at times: 'I have a feeling he/she likes me', or something like: 'I doubt if what he/she is saying is really the truth'. This type of feeling is called intuition. Body language plays a big role in intuition or the sixth sense or what you feel, as it gives us messages about the other person that we can interpret at an intuitive level. It is therefore necessary to get to know our own body language first. We should learn about it so that we can recognize it in others as well as in ourselves. Basically body language is an important tool to help you navigate the people around you.

How to Read Body Language Understanding body language is a skill that can enhance your life. You can know what a person thinks and feels by examining their subconscious body language: 1. Measure the distance. The closer that someone is to you, the warmer his or her opinions are of you. The farther away that someone is, the less they care. 2. Watch their head position. Overly tilted heads are a sign of sympathy. It can again mean the person is trying to convince you of their honesty. Lowered heads indicate a reason to hide something. Take note if someone lowers their head. If it is when he or she are complimented, he or she may be shy, ashamed, timid, keeping distance from the other person, in disbelief, or thinking to herself. If it is after an explanation, then he or she may be unsure if what they said was correct. Angry heads or cock heads mean that they are confused or challenging you, depending on eye, eyebrow and mouth gestures. 3. Look into their eyes. Liars will consecutively look at you and look away a number of times. You can actually learn specifically how to observe behavior to judge whether someone's lying very easily.

People who look away while supposedly listening to you are thinking about something else. This is why when you are talking to a group of people, if an item in conversation strikes the one looking away, they will ask for you to repeat the story.

4. See if they're mirroring you or trying to read you through the eyes. Mirroring is another common gesture. If someone mirrors, or mimics your appearance, this is a very genuine sign that they are interested in you. 5. Check the arms People with crossed arms are closing themselves to social influence. The worst thing that you can do to people with crossed arms is to challenge them in one way or another, no matter how they react. This annoys them. Though some people just cross their arms as a habit, they're (slightly) reserved, or they're just trying to hide something on their shirt. If someone rests their arms behind their neck, they are open to what is being discussed and interested in listening more. They may be waiting to state their opinion on the matter. Look at the location of the hands. If the hands are in their pockets, then they are more relaxed and are more likely to be attracted to you.

6. Be aware of nervous gestures: If someone brushes their hair back with their fingers, their thoughts about something conflict with yours. If you see raised eyebrows during this time, you can be pretty sure that they disagree with you. If someone is biting their lip, they are anticipating or waiting for something. Lowered eyebrows and narrow eyes illustrate an attempt at understanding what is being said or going on. It's usually skeptical or doubtful. (Or maybe they have a problem seeing)

Tips: It's easy to spot a confident person; they will make prolonged or extended eye contact and have a strong posture. If people laugh excessively, it may be dishonest, or they just might be very naturally jovial or cheerful. Use your best judgement. Don't isolate yourself by constantly examining body language when interacting with people. You may prove yourself to be a fool.

Warnings: Unfortunately, there are always exceptions. Some people's body languages are not a representation of how they feel. This is where your instincts or your natural feelings must decide. There are wide cultural differences, so body language will differ in other countries. One must be very careful before judging the person.

18 ways to improve your body language:

There is no specific advice on how to use your body language. These are some common interpretations of body language and often more effective ways to communicate with your body. First, to change your body language you must be aware of your body language. Notice how you sit, how you stand, how you use you hands and legs, what you do while talking to someone. Some of these tips might seem like you are faking. But fake it till you make it is a useful way to learn something new. And remember, feelings work backwards too. If you smile a bit more you will feel happier. If you sit up straight you will feel more energetic and in control. Here, are some of the ways in which you can improve your body language: 1. Dont cross your arms or legs: You have probably already heard you shouldnt cross your arms as it might make you seem defensive or guarded. This goes for your legs too. Keep your arms and legs open. 2. Have eye contact, but dont stare If there are several people you are talking to, give them all some eye contact to create a better connection and see if they are listening. Keeping too much eye-contact might make people uncomfortable. Giving no eye-contact might make you seem insecure. If you are not used to keeping eye-contact it might feel a little hard or scary in the beginning but keep working on it and youll get used to it. 3. Dont be afraid to take up some space Taking up space by for example sitting or standing with your legs apart a bit signals self-confidence and that you are comfortable in your own skin. 4. Relax your shoulders When you feel tense its easily winds up as tension in your shoulders. They might move up and forward a bit. Try to relax. Try to loosen up by shaking the shoulders a bit and move them back slightly. 5. Nod when they are talking Nod once in a while to signal that you are listening. But dont overdo it and keep nodding without any reason. 6. Dont bend down; sit up straight but in a relaxed way, not in a too tense manner. 7. Lean, but not too much If you want to show that you are interested in what someone is saying, lean toward the person talking. If you want to show that youre confident in yourself and relaxed lean back a bit. But dont lean in too much or you might seem needy and desperate for some support. Or lean back too much or you might seem arrogant and distant. 8. Smile and laugh lighten up, dont take yourself too seriously. Relax a bit, smile and laugh when someone says something funny. People will be a lot more inclined to listen to you if you seem to be a positive person. But dont be the first to laugh at your own jokes, it makes you seem nervous and needy. Smile when you are introduced to someone but dont keep a smile plastered on your face, youll seem insincere. 9. Dont touch your face it might make you seem nervous and can be distracting for the listeners or the people in the conversation. 10. Keep you head up - Dont keep your eyes on the ground, it might make you seem insecure and a bit lost. Keep your head up straight and your eyes towards the horizon. 11. Slow down a bit this goes for many things. Walking slower not only makes you seem more calm and confident, it will also make you feel less stressed. If someone addresses you, dont crack youre neck in their direction, turn it a bit more slowly instead. 12. Dont be restless try to avoid, phase out or transform restless movement and nervous ticks such as shaking your leg or tapping your fingers against the table rapidly. Youll seem nervous can be a distracting when you try to get something across. Try to relax, slow down and focus your movements. 13. Use your hands more confidently instead of playing with your hands and scratching your face use them to communicate what you are trying to say. Use your hands to describe something or to add weight to a point you are trying to make. But dont use them to much or it might become distracting. And dont let your hands wave around, use them with some control.

14. Lower your drink dont hold your drink in front of your chest. In fact, dont hold anything in front of your heart as it will make you seem guarded and distant. Lower it and hold it beside your leg or bit below near to the stomach instead. 15. Dont stand too close one of the things we should remember is that everybody feels uncomfortable out by a close-talker. Let people have their personal space, dont invade/occupy it. 16. Mirror - Often when you get along with a person, when the two of you get a good connection, you will start to mirror each other unconsciously. That means that you mirror the other persons body language a bit. To make the connection better you can try a bit of practical mirroring. If he leans forward, you might lean forward. If she holds her hands on her hands, you might do the same. But dont react instantly and dont mirror every change in body language. 17. Handshake - A handshake can be soft, firm, brief, long or even painful. The way you shake hands provide clues to your personality. Aggressive people have firm handshakes. People with low self esteem often have a weak handshake. Domineering men often squeeze the hand of a woman during a greeting. So adopt a handshake that is firm, yet not pressing. Convey confidence and professionalism, not dominance. 18. Keep a good attitude last but not least, keep a positive, open and relaxed attitude. How you feel will come through in your body language and can make a major difference.

Examples of Body Language:

NONVERBAL BEHAVIOR Rapid, erect walk Standing with hands on hips Sitting with legs crossed, foot kicking slightly Sitting, legs apart Arms crossed on chest Walking with hands in pockets, shoulders hunched Hand to cheek Touching, slightly rubbing nose Rubbing the eye Hands held behind the back Locked ankles Head resting in hand, eyes down Rubbing hands Sitting with hands clasped behind head, legs crossed Open palm Tapping or drumming fingers Steep fingers Pat/fondling hair Tilted head Rubbing chin Looking down, face turned away Biting nails Pulling or tugging the ear

INTERPRETATION Confidence Readiness, aggression Boredom Open, relaxed Defensiveness/ Self Protective Dejection/ Depression Evaluation, thinking Rejection, doubt, lying Doubt, disbelief Anger, frustration, apprehension Apprehension/ Fear Boredom/ not interested Anticipation/ Hope Confidence, superiority Sincerity, openness, innocence Impatience/irritation Authoritative/dependable Lack of self-confidence; insecurity Interest Trying to make a decision Disbelief Insecurity, nervousness Indecision

How to Understand a Student's Body Language? 1. Look at their eyes. Are they dull and unfocused? If so, you are most likely boring them do death. They may be trying to catch the eye of a friend. If a student is paying attention to you, their eyes will be focused on you. Their look may wander around, this is natural. 2. Evaluate their facial expression. You may understand a lot from the facial expression itself. 3. Evaluate their posture. Are they leaning over the desk? They may be trying not to fall asleep. A student paying attention will usually be sitting up, though almost no student sits straight. 4. Look at his or her legs. If his or her foot is tapping against the floor, he or she may be impatient with the lecture, conversation, or presentation. Leg position varies from student to student - some prefer to cross their legs, or to place them firmly on the floor. 5. Take clues from the environment. Look at the whole body of students. Do they appear to be interested? Or, as a whole, do they appear to be bored?

Warnings: Every person is different, and there is no universal body language. Do not embarrass the students by staring.